Broom-corn harvester



(No Mc del.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. W. PETERSON.

BROOM 001m HARVESTER.

No. 485,711 Patented Nov. 8, 1892.

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Y I I a (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. W. PETERSON.

BROOM CORN HARVESTER.

No. 485,711. Patented Nov. 8,1892.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

G. W. PETERSON. BROOM 001w HARVESTER.

No. 485,711. Patented Nov. 8, 1892.

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llNrrao TATES PATENT Orrrcn.

GEORGE W. PETERSON, OF LEONARDVILLE, KANSAS.

BROOM-CORN HARVESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 485,711, dated November 8, 1892.

Application filed July 28, 1891- Serial No. 400,939. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. PETERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Leonardville, in the county of Riley and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Broom-Corn Harvester, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to harvesters, and more especially to those of that class that are adapted for the cutting of corn; and the object of the same is to produce certain improvements in machines of this character.

To this end the invention consists in the construction hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed, and as illustrated on the drawings, Wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation of this improved machine. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 isa rear elevation. Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the cutting apparatus, showing certain of the fingers as broken away at their inner ends. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of said apparatus. Fig. 5 is an outer end elevation thereof. Fig. (3 is a perspective detail showing the means for adjusting the height of the cutting apparatus. Fig. 7 is a perspective detail showing the mechanism for throwing the machine into and out of operation. Fig. Sis a perspective detail of one of the cushions for supporting the inner ends of the carrier-frames.

Referring to the said drawings, the letter F designates the main frame having uprights U, which support the cutting apparatus 0.

I is the frame of the inwardly-traveling carrier in rear of this cutting apparatus.

0 is the outwardly-traveling carrier supported by supplemental uprights u.

A is the adjusting mechanism for regulating the height of the cutting apparatus.

H is the reel.

S are the spring-cushions, M the main lever, D the drivers seat, and T the tongue, all these parts being of the following specific construction:

The main supporting-wheels 1 1 are mounted on the axle 2, which is provided with a sleeve 3, turning loosely thereon and having notches or teeth 4 at one end. Splined on the axle is a ring 5, having teeth 4', adapted to mesh with those on the collar, thereby forming a movable clutch member, and the latter is engaged by a roller 6, turning loosely between ribs 7 on the ring 5, the said roller being connected by a rod 8 with the lower end of the main lever M, which is pivoted, as at 9, to the frame F, and which rises through the same adjacent the drivers seat D. By this construction the driver by manipulating the lever M may throw the sliding clutch member into or out of engagement with the sleeve 3, and thereby start or stop the operation of the entire machine.

Rising from the right side of the framework F are the main uprights U U, through which move vertically rack-bars 11 11, that are raised and lowered by the adjusting mechanism A, hereinafter described, and the upper ends of these rack-bars are connected to the frame I of the inwardly-traveling carrier, this frame having a horizontal portion 12 and an inclined inner portion 13. The supplemental uprights u are pivotally connected, as at 1 1, to the left side of the framework F and rise therefrom through blocks 15, which are connected by a swivel with the frame 0 of the outwardlytraveling carrier, the uprights being adj ustably secured in said blocks by set-screws 16. The inner end of this carrier 0 passes beneath the inner end of the other carrier I, and such ends are connected by pivoted connecting-rods 17.

The spring-cushions S comprise tubes 18, rising from the frame F and surrounded by expansible springs 19, and depending rods 20 from the inner entlot' the carrier-frame 0 pass into these tubes and through the springs, and by this mechanism the inner ends of the two carriers are supported and cushioned by the frame.

21 are lugs projecting forwardly and rearwardly from the inner ends of the carrierframes, and 22 are guides rising from the frame F and between which said lugs move vertically, as will be clear. hen the rack bars above mentioned are elevated so as to raise the horizontal portion 12 of the carrier I, the latter naturally draws its lugs 21 upwardly between the guides 22, and through the pivoted connecting-rods 17 the inner end of the carrier 0 is also raised, the outer end of this carrier swinging outwardly over the pivoted uprights u, and the swiveled blocks 15 turning in the frame of this carrier, as will ICO be clear. lf greater adjustment is desired,

the uprightsu are adjusted throughtheiblocks by means of the set-screws 16; but the lugs on both the carriers always move between the guides, and the spring-cushions S assist in supporting them.

The mechanism for driving the carriers isas follows: The sleeve 3 carries a bevel-gear 30, meshing with another one 30' on a short to shaft 31, journaled in the frame, and this shaft has a sprocket-Wheel 32 on its otherend.-

The carriers are endless belts moving over suitable rollers journaled in the frames, as will be clearly understood, and on the shaft of the upper rollerof the carrierOisasprocket-wheel 32', connected by an endless chain 32" with the sprocket-wheel'32. The other end of the shaft hasa sprocket-wheel33,connected with another sprocket-wheel33f on the shaft of theroller atthe othertl1atis, theinner .or 1ower-end of the carrier .0 by-a chain .7

This shaft has another sprocket Wheel Bah-connected with a sprocket-wheel 34" on theshaft of [the inner roller of the carrier,

belt 33".

I by a chain belt 34.", and this-shaft has an other sprocket-wheel 35 connected -with a sprocket-wheel 35 .on the shaft of the roller at the outer end of thecarri-er I by anend- By this meanswh-en the main I less chain 55". lever M is properly manipulated to engage. the two clutch members, andthesleeve 3 is then rotated by the axle, powerwill .be trans: mitted to the outer end of the carrier 0, thence to its inner end, thence to the inner end of. the carrier I, and thence to the outer end .of. this carrier, and yet the vertical adjustment I of these carriers will not be interfered with. Hence I consider this system of belts and sprocket-wheels highly advantageous .in the present connection,because it permits the adjustment of the carriers in the manner set forth above.

The cutting apparatus 0 is of the following,

construction: The sprocketwheel35',as above stated, drives the outer roller of the inwardly-traveling carrier I, and on the front .end of this shaft is a beveled gear 36,which engages another 36', also carrying a plain gear 36?, and this gear intermeshes with the first of a train of intermeshing gears 37, mounted on stub-shafts at the lower side of the finger-bar 38. The said bar carries fingers 39, which project forwardly in the usual manner, except the last of the train 37, by which the shaft is.

rotated. On the said shaft is mounted a hub 42, which is adjustable verticallyby means of a set-screw 43, whereby the height of the jecting laterally therefrom, as shown.

reel above the cutting apparatus can be reg ulated, as desired, and in this hub are seated radially-projecting reel-arms 44, as shown, the rotation of the hub being in the direction to move these bars to the rear across the cutting apparatus, and hence to drive the heads of the cornstalks rearwardl y onto the inwardly-traveling carrier. It will be understood that this reel may be adjusted relatively to the cutting apparatus and that both will be adjusted by the adjusting devices A. The

. said devices for adjusting the height of the cutting apparatus and reel are constructed as-follow-s: 11 11 are rack-bars moving through guides in the uprights U of the frame, and these rack-bars are connected at their upper endswith theframe I of the inwardly-traveling carrier. 51. is a horizontal a shaft journaled in bearings in said uprightsand havingtoothed wheels 52 engaging said racke bars, and the front .end of-this shaft carries a bevel-gear 53, engaging another 53 on the shaft 54, mounted in suitable brackets rising from t-heframe F and carrying at its inner end a toothed wheel 55. 56 isa lever pivoted on the shaft 54 and having, a spring-actuated pawl 57 adapted to engage the-teeth of the wheel 55, and 58 is a spring-actuated retaining-pawlsliding in. guides or eyes 58 in the framework and having a foot-piece 59, pro- 1 With this construction, the driver, sitting in his seat D, can push forward on the foot piece59 and disengage the pawl 58 from the wheel 55, and. then by reciprocating the lever 56 he can turn the horizontal shaft 51 inv the proper direction to raise or lower the rack-barsll and with them the outer end of the inwardly-traveling carrier. The cutting apparatus and the reel,;and hence the height at which the stalks are cut, can. be regulated by the driver without leaving his seat.

With a machine of this construction, the team being hitched to the tongue T and driven over the ground, the cutting appara tus will cut the heads from-anygrain desired, and is hence highly useful for cutting broomcorn. The heads so cutare knocked to the rear by thevreel H, and fall on the inwardlytraveling carrier I, whence they are conducted to and dropped upon the outwardly-tram I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction, as considerable changemay be .made. therein without departing from the ,spirit of my invention.

What is claimed as new is llO 1. Ina corn-harvester, the combinationnvith the main frame having uprights, bars vertically adjustable in said uprights, an endless carrier whose frame is connected with said bars, a delivery-carrier to which said first carrier delivers, means for operating these carriers, and means for adjusting said bars vertically, of a cutting apparatus mounted on the outer end of said first-named endless carrier, connections between this cutting apparatus and a shaft of the carrier, a reel above the cutting apparatus, and connections between the reelshaft and the cutting apparatus, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a corn-harvester, the combination,with

the axle, the main frame mounted on the axle,

a sleeve turning thereon and having teeth at one end and a gear at its other end, a ring splined on the axle and having teeth adapted to engage those on the sleeve, and a main lever for moving this ring longitudinally, of a pair of vertically-adjustable uprights, and a pair of supplemental uprights located at 0pposite sides of the frame, an inwardly-travelin gand an outwardly-travelin g carrier mounted, respectively, on the adjustable uprights and supplemental uprights, connections between said gear and the shaft of one carrier, connections between the adjacent shafts of the two carriers, a cutting apparatus supported at one side of and by the frame of the illwardly-traveling carrier, and connections between the roll thereof and the cutting apparatus, substantially as specified.

3. Inaharvester, the combination, with the main frame having vertical guides rising therefrom, the cutting apparatus, and springcushions between said guides, of an endless carrier having lugs on its frame moving in said guides and supported by the cushions, and means for raising and lowering said ele- Vator, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a harvester, the combination, with a main frame having vertical guides rising therefrom, stationary uprights at one side and pivoted supplemental uprights at the other side of the guides, and the cutting apparatus, of bars moving through said stationary uprights, an inwardly-traveling carrier mounted in a frame on these bars and having lugs at the inner ends of its frame moving in the guides, an outwardly-traveling carrier whose frame is pivotally connected to said supplemental uprights and having lugs at its inner end moving in the guides beneath those of the other carrier, pivoted connecting-rods connecting the inner ends of the carrier-frame, means for driving the carriers, and means for adjusting said bars vertically, as and for the purpose set forth. 5. In a harvester, the combination,with an endless carrier moving in a frame and operating in conjunction with the cutting apparatus, its frame having a depending rod, of a tube rising from the main frame and embracing said rod loosely and an expansible spring surrounding the tube and pressing the carrierframe upwardly, substantially as described.

6. In a corn-harvester, the combination, with the main frame, uprights thereon, an outwardly-traveling carrier whose frame is sup ported by one pair of uprights, an inwardlytraveling carrier whose frame is supported by the other pair, this frame having a horizontal outer portion and an inclined inner portion leading over the inner end of the outwardlytraveling carrier, and means for driving said carriers, of a cutting apparatus mounted at one side of and supported by said horizontal portion of the carrier-frame, connections between such apparatus and one of the shafts of the carrier, and a reel located at one end of the cutting apparatus, and driving connections between it and the cutting apparatus, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a harvester, the combination, with the main frame having the main uprights at one side and the pivoted supplemental uprights at the other side thereof, the adj usting-bars passing through said main uprights, a carrier whose frame is supported by said bars, and another carrier whose frame is pivotallysupported by the supplemental uprights, of pivoted connecting-rods connecting the inner ends of said carrier-frames, a wheel driven by the axle, a belt connecting this wheel with the outer shaft of one carrier, pulleys on the shafts at the adjacent ends of the carriers, and a belt connecting said pulleys, substantially as described.

8. In aharvester, the combination, with the main frame having the main uprights at one side and the pivoted supplemental uprights at theother side thereof, the adjusting-bars passing through said main uprights, a carrier whose frame is supported by said bars, another carrier whose frame is pivotally supported by the supplemental uprights, and pivoted connecting-rods connecting the inner ends of said carriers, of a wheel driven by the axle,belts connecting this Wheel with the outer shaft of one carrier, said shaft with the inner shaft of this carrier, said inner shaft with the inner shaft of the other carrier, and the latter inner shaft with the outer shaft of its carrier, a cut-ting apparatus, and connection between said apparatus and the last-mentioned shaft, as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a corn-harvester, the combination, with the frame, the main uprights at one side thereof, the adjusting-bars passing through said uprights, the supplemental uprights piv= oted to the other side of the mainframe, the blocks on the supplemental uprights, and setscrews through said blocks, of an inwardlytraveling carrier whose frame is supported by said bars, an outwardly traveling carrier whose frame is loosely connected to the inner end of the other carrier-frame, swivel connections between said blocks and the outer end of the outwardly-traveling carrier-frame, and means for driving the carriers, substantially as described.

10. In a harvester, the combination, with the main frame, an upright thereon, a rack bar moving therethrough, a carrier whose frame is supported by the rack-bar, vertical guides on the main frame, and lugs on the carrier-frame moving in said guides, of ashaft gournaled'inibearings in the upright and havmg a gear engaging said rackrbar, another shaft geared to the first and having a large gear, and an operating-lever for turning the latter gear, as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a harvester, the combination, with the rotary cutting apparatus, the reel driven thereby, and connections between said apparatus and the driving-Wheels, of an inwardlytravellng carrier in rear of the cutting apparatus, an on tWardly-traveling carrier to which the other delivers, guides out-he main frame, lugs on both carrier-frames moving in said guides, links connecting said carrier-frames,

GEORGE W. PETERSON. Witnesses:

A. M. STORY, R. A. DAKENS. 

